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Post by HHDeception on Mar 30, 2015 1:49:27 GMT -6
CC sprayed energy pellets into the air, mostly missing the bats swirling overhead, but keeping them at bay for the time being. What Spencer was doing was slightly less clear, but Mike's eyes were quick enough to catch the gist of it. Between his hands hovered a large pad of sticky notes, and occasionally one would rip itself off and very quickly assemble into an origami figure before disappearing. Currently they were forming origami rabbits, which would explain the handful of origami-rabbit-shaped masses of energy floating in the air among the bats, trying to get a few hard kicks in before they either dissipated or the bats tore them to bits.
Mike turned and looked at the penguins...sorry, Popguins, sliding towards him in a spearhead formation. He ducked as he heard an explosion sound overhead, most likely done by CC, but he had to focus at the task at hand for now.
"Stick to what you know," Mike said to Zachi, "But I'm going to try something new myself if I get a chance."
Zachi nodded. "Alright."
She lashed out with her pen. A trail of ink ensnared the advancing penguins, and a swift click was followed by a loud BANG as they were all blown into the air. Spencer and CC both jumped, but didn't let their surprise dampen their suppression fire. Before the Popguins could land, Mike dashed at them in a continuous circle, trying to juggle them in the air until Zachi had laid more ink.
"Any time now!" he called to his partner.
She shook her pen, "It's not working."
Oh great, NOW there's a problem?
"Let the pin recharge!" Spencer called over to her hurriedly.
Could have told us that was a thing sooner!
Mike quickly snapped to his senses as his own pin seemed to run dry after prolonged use. He tripped as his dash wore off, but caught himself in a roll. He was back on his feet, but the Popguins were now waddling his way, flippers flailing about like blades. Mike checked his pins, and saw that one ("Velocity Attack" was it?) was now dull, while the other two remained the same.
Well the Player Pin works by touching it...
He touched one. Nothing happened. He moved to touch the other one, but a popguin lunged. By instinct he dove out of the way, but he only avoided the first one. The 5 others jumped him while he was on the ground, and he was quite lucky that his second pin decided to trigger at that moment. A black ring of violently spinning energy surrounded Mike, tossing the attacking popguins off of him. He looked down very quickly and realized he was tapping the pin he had used for the Tin Pin event, "Burnt Rubber". Zachi's ink trails decided then to reinstate themselves and trapped the popguins as they hit the ground. They were swiftly exploded. Mike shielded himself from the heat as he heard the popguins give their erasure cry.
"Sorry for the wait." Zachi called out. "Too close. I will have to moderate from here on..." She thought to herself.
The final group of Noise, the deer-like Zellhorns, chose then to charge into the battle. The three of them rushed for Zachi, Spencer, and CC at speeds equal to Mike's Velocity Attack. Mike was about to call back to Zachi, but noticed the incoming blitz and dashed in without second thought. For only a brief moment, he thought he wasn't going to make it in time...and that's because he didn't. A giant origami butterfly shield managed to block the two Zellhorns charging towards Spencer and CC, but the third one rammed directly into Zachi, tossing her hard into the opposite wall.
"Zachi!" Spencer yelled.
"ZACHI!" Mike yelled louder. He swung his fist mid-dash preemptively to strike the Zellhorn...only to find that it wasn't preemptive. Some force carried him along even faster, closing the gap between Mike and the Noise in an instant. The barrier that usually protected him while dashing disappeared, but Mike rocketed forwards, punching out the Zellhorn that had struck Zachi and slamming it into the far wall. He didn't really comprehend what just happened, but he registered it enough to do it again, and in a blink Mike closed the gap and delivered a follow-up punch, ramming the Zellhorn in the wall further into it. Mike glanced at his pins. The one they called "Rushdown" was now dull, but "Burnt Rubber" still had some juice left. He triggered it and watched the energy barrier grind the Zellhorn against the wall until it disintegrated, with that strangled cry Noise normally make when erased.
Mike looked up. The swarm of bats was reduced to three, and there was now an origami dog wrestling one of the Zellhorns to the ground. CC had one pistol pointed in the air, while the other one was firing at the second Zellhorn...but doing little more than making it dance. CC's bullets suddenly stopped and she yelped, prompting Spencer to summon another butterfly shield to cover her while her Psychs reloaded. The second Zellhorn took the opportunity to fall back, but then Mike saw that it definitely saw Zachi, who was getting up but still looking disoriented.
Mike looked down. Burnt Rubber and Rushdown were recharging, but Velocity Attack was still online.
A) Call to Zachi
B) Call to get Spencer's attention
C) Other
1) Dash at the Zellhorn
2) Dash to guard Zachi
3) Other
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Post by empireoffire on Mar 30, 2015 2:02:11 GMT -6
2
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Post by HHDeception on Mar 30, 2015 2:08:45 GMT -6
*pst* you can pick a letter too.
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Post by empireoffire on Mar 30, 2015 2:43:15 GMT -6
*pst* you can pick a letter too. "can" implies there's a choice in doing so. Therefore, I won't. |
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Post by SwordMasterEX on Mar 30, 2015 5:43:45 GMT -6
B2, can't let our waifu take more punishment.
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Post by SummerCrow on Mar 30, 2015 7:44:26 GMT -6
C: "NO-O-O-O-O!!!" (preferably in slow motion)
2
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Post by grayjack on Mar 30, 2015 19:19:39 GMT -6
B2.
B1 could probably save Zachi, but it's more noble if we take the hit for her.
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Post by HHDeception on Mar 31, 2015 2:14:18 GMT -6
"Spencer!"
Spencer looked quickly in the direction of Mike's voice, more by instinct than anything else. He saw the Zellhorn charge at Zachi, and Mike charging over to protect her. His first thought was to create a shield but when he flicked his wrists and nothing emerged, he realized that he had used up the pin's charges. Instead, he turned to the one currently protecting CC and commanded it to relocate, diving in to replace it and taking the brunt of the bats' attacks himself.
"Spence!" CC gasped, still-reloading pistols slipping out of her grasp as they dove around Spencer to batter the bats off of him manually.
The butterfly shield intercepted the Zellhorn mid-charge, causing it to pause just as Mike reached Zachi's side. He was about to give her a hand up, but from the look in her eyes she was completely lucid. Mike looked at the ground and saw a large ink blotch in front of her, obviously intending to stop the Noise when it charged her, and it would have worked too, if the Zellhorn hadn't decided to make its next attack by jumping a storey into the air. Mike and Zachi looked at each other.
Trust me. We're partners!
They nodded. Mike dashed away then turned on a dime to head straight for the ink blotch, where the instant he passed over top of it, Zachi hit the detonator. Velocity Attack's barrier covered Mike as the violent flames threw him into the air, intercepting the Zellhorn's jump attack moments before it could stomp Zachi. Mike's trajectory caused both him and the Noise to crash into the wall above Zachi, forcing her to hurriedly scramble out of the way as they came crashing down where she was. Mike reached for Burning Rubber, and it was thankfully recharged. He ground the grounded Zellhorn into dust.
Mike shook his head and looked for more threats...and found none. Over with Spencer and CC, he heard the girl shout "Take this you meanie!" before hearing a gunshot and the erasure cry of the last bat. Spencer was panting on the ground, but didn't look too worse for wear. The origami dog Spencer had summoned had since defeated that last Zellhorn, and now came over to Spencer to help him up, before dissolving away. Zachi was picking pins up off of the ground.
...phew. That was closer than I'd have liked....
Mike relaxed slightly, before inquiring to Zachi, "You alright?"
Zachi looked at him. "Nothing broken. You got impaled last time. I got off easy."
Mike smiled a bit in reply, and noticed Spencer and CC making their way over. Spencer was carrying a stack of pins.
CC called to Zachi, "Use your player pin! It picks them all up for you."
Zachi paused, then dropped what she was already carrying. She tapped the player pin again and instantly all the pins nearby floated up into the air to surround her at arm's reach. "Nifty," she said calmly.
Spencer came over and dumped the pins he was carrying into Zachi's arms. "Here," he said, "You can divide them up."
Zachi set them out on the ground and started sorting. Slowly, the other occupants of the mall started fading into view, and the din of the crowd started to become audible once again. The four were still invisible regardless, but it was kind of welcoming after that last fight.
"Hey um..." Spencer said after some time, "Sorry about that. It was too many at once. Thanks for covering our backs."
CC leaned on him, "Aw it's ok Spency. You got to be a hero!"
"I meant them," Spencer added, mildly irritated. CC stopped leaning on him, but Spencer immediately gave her an apologetic look and she took up her previous position.
Mike rolled his eyes, "Well, we're alive. But uh...next time, Zachi picks the fight."
Zachi got up, and handed a pile of pins to Spencer. "$650 each."
"Nice!" Spencer said taking the pile. Mike looked at Zachi expectantly, but then realized that by "each" she meant "each group". She pocketed their allotment herself. Meanwhile, Spencer went through the pins as CC counted.
Mike checked his watch. 4:23 pm. Not bad for twenty minutes of work...life threatening as it is. Strangely, after the fight ended he wasn't even tired, and despite all that fighting he never got sweaty...actually come to think of it, he hadn't needed a bathroom in two days either. But then again, he is dead...that's not really something he had thought about a lot. He is currently playing the Reaper's game, with his life at stake...and here he is making friends.
Spencer's voice snapped him back to reality. "I don't know about you guys, but we're gonna go cash this. Easier to carry around. Thanks again!"
"Yep! Thank you!" CC said before turning with Spencer to walk away down the hall.
Mike looked at Zachi, who looked back.
"So...now what?"
A) Shopping
B) Fight some more. Could still use practice.
C) Head back to the Tin Pin Masters event.
D) Other
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Post by empireoffire on Mar 31, 2015 2:25:55 GMT -6
D) "We got our asses kicked. Let's go to the local Home Depot and see what blunt objects we may be able to use in a fight!"
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Post by grayjack on Mar 31, 2015 3:05:35 GMT -6
C.
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Post by SummerCrow on Mar 31, 2015 7:45:55 GMT -6
How much money do we have? It's getting close to $1000, yeah?
I'll vote A. That C type of thing always waits for the main characters... I hope.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 31, 2015 21:16:45 GMT -6
D) "We got our asses kicked. Let's go to the local Home Depot and see what blunt objects we may be able to use in a fight!" This so this. |
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Post by HHDeception on Apr 1, 2015 0:11:16 GMT -6
"We need to up our game." Mike said.
Zachi nodded, "I agree that we both need more practice."
"No no, I mean..." Mike crossed his arms and thought a bit, "You could use a way to defend yourself when you're recharging. And I could use something stronger than my fists. You know?"
Zachi blinked. "What did you have in mind?"
"Is there a hardware store around here?"
Zachi just kept looking at him.
"...no."
"Oh."
....
"Sporting goods though-"
"Sports are good."
They made their way over to the sport shop in relative silence. It wasn't a one of those huge multi-floor operations with their own rock-climbing wall, but they had their bases covered (both figuratively and literally) regardless. Zachi stopped for a moment to cash in their pins on the red sigil outside as Mike made his way in.
You know, what would happen if someone recognized me? I mean, I'm supposed to be dead right? Or am I invisible to those people all the time? Ah...don't think about it too hard. I'm just here for...
Mike found the baseball bat section and picked out something that looked durable. Aluminum is probably the way to go. He grabbed another one for Zachi, and then turned to look for her...and couldn't find her.
Great. Oh wait, duh.
*tap tap tap*
Where are you?
*tap*
Mike wandered around a bit. Sucks that they didn't have a bike section here...come to think of it, they had like $800 or so in cash now didn't they? Some new shoes might be in order...maybe Spencer would share that locker?
"Mike."
He heard his name and saw Zachi coming up behind him. She held a pair of black sweatpants and a shoebox in her arms.
"...I don't suppose they have cricket bats here?" she said. Same tone as always, so Mike decided that was rhetorical.
"You're getting those?" Mike replied instead.
Zachi shrugged, "You're wearing shorts. But if you hadn't noticed, it's a bit hard to run in these." She gestured down to her slacks and leather shoes.
"I'm going to guess the labcoat stays though." Mike replied.
"It has to. My pins are on it." Zachi said, before taking the two bats and heading for checkout.
And you can't move the pins because...?
Mike checked his phone as they left the store. 4:45. About time to be heading back to the Tin Pin Masters event.
"If you're wondering, we have just under $600 left."
...I haven't been counting, but how expensive were those shoes?
Mike nodded. "Cool, you got that cover what are you doing?"
Zachi was at a bench against a wall, fidgeting with her belt. Then she stopped she looked up at him.
"Changing. Turn around."
"Here?!"
"We're invisible out here remember? Just turn around and don't move."
...
Mike did as told, distracting himself by watching people passing them by, trying not to feel awkward. He fixated on these two teenagers sitting on a bench across the way. They looked like a couple, but the guy seemed much too physically distant...one of those friendzone scenarios? Or maybe it's she's being prickly...
Oh hey. I can read minds now! ...I'm not being a creep, I'm just testing this. For Science. Zachi approved.
Mike tapped his player pin, sorting through the voices to find the voices he was looking for.
...ate that pizza last night. Now...
...really riding up on me. This...
...gonna call or do I call back...
...as candy, the taste is on my...
...she smile like that? It's like she knows I have to agree with her. Just keep her laughing. That'll do until I figure out...
...more obvious. There is no way he's this dense. Denise does not get to say I'm leading him on! He just won't take-
GROOOOAAAAAAAAARRRRRRR!!!!!
Mike knee-jerked out of his trance when that roar hit his senses.
What the hell? It sounds like it came from the entry way...
"What happened?" Zachi tapped him on the shoulder, now in her new state of dress.
"I heard a roar. But like...a Noise roar. Like when people's minds flood in when you hit the player pin but...loud and...scary..."
Zachi blinked at him. Mike noticed that her blank stares had recently switched from "you're stupid" to "you're nuts". It was in the eyebrows.
"Well...it's 10 minutes to the Tin Pin Event," she said, "I don't think it'll take long."
"Um..."
A) Head to Tin Pin.
B) Investigate what that roar was.
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Post by empireoffire on Apr 1, 2015 1:28:14 GMT -6
Hmm... Fighting dangerous monsters, or video games?
...
Video games. A.
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Post by grayjack on Apr 1, 2015 1:29:07 GMT -6
B.
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Post by SummerCrow on Apr 1, 2015 8:18:44 GMT -6
Even if we're late for the event, Spence should have that on lock. And if this is something that may disrupt the event, we need it to not do that, preferably because it's dead. B.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2015 9:03:16 GMT -6
B
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Post by HHDeception on Apr 3, 2015 1:46:17 GMT -6
Mike spoke, "I think we should check out whatever that was."
Zachi shrugged and picked up her shopping bags. "Fine."
Mike raised an eyebrow. "...Just like that?"
The lights flickered in the mall, but if you blinked you'd miss it. Zachi responded. "It's not like I get a say."
Well that's cold.
"...Alright look," Mike looked her in the eye, opening his arms in compliance, "You don't talk much. If you object then speak up! I can't help it if I'm the one calling the shots."
"I let you call them," Zachi responded plainly," That's how we work."
Mike groaned a little, "Do we or do we not have a problem here?"
"No problems."
"Right. Sure. So the passive aggression?"
"It's not aggression, it's efficiency."
What is wrong with her?
The lights in the mall again flickered very briefly, but Mike didn't notice for wanting to pull his hair out. "Then explain," he said in a measured tone, "how this efficiency works."
Zachi did notice the light flicker, and looked down the hall. She quickly turned and headed down, commanding Mike with a "Follow."
When Mike didn't move she raised her voice, "Follow. I'll explain on the way."
"Where are you going?!"
"You looked this way. A roar right?"
Mike growled and ran to catch up to her, "Seriously, what gives?!"
Zachi spoke as they both walked briskly towards where Mike had heard the roar. "If I were to make demands of you, you'd get defensive and we'd end up arguing like this," she said, reaching for the pen in her pocket, "Your opinions are just as valid as mine. I have no idea how to proceed, so there is no harm in letting you decide. It is more efficient to let you walk over me, since I wont feel oppressed, and we won't conflict. Short answers are more efficient. You are mistaking optimization for offense."
Mike snorted, "I know people. I watch them all the time. You reek of passive aggression, don't deny it! Ugh! Don't talk to me like I'm an idiot."
"I'm not."
"Oh, excuse me?"
Zachi stopped abruptly and dropped the bags. She grabbed Mike, putting her hands up on his shoulders, and looking him straight in the eyes.
"Stop. You are picking a fight. You're supposed to be cooler than this."
"What are-"
"Mike!" Zachi interrupted and shook him, "Look around."
Mike realized then that he was squinting slightly. He relaxed his eyes and noticed that the lights weren't as stable as they should be, and were flickering at a frequency on the edge of perception. If you weren't thinking about it, you wouldn't notice anything but a subconscious aggravation. After that, he heard yelling. He turned around and looked to find the nearby shops where it was coming from. Tension seemed to run through the shoppers left and right. Fights were breaking out over who saw what first, which coupons and gift cards worked, kids were throwing fits over getting what they wanted, it was a general stink of negativity. Everyone seemed on edge, even the people just passing by...and whatever was affecting them, was probably affecting Mike as well.
"...is something going on?" Mike said at last.
Zachi looked down, and then pulled the bats out of the bag, tossing one to Mike. "Only one way to find out" she said, before hitting her Player Pin.
Mike caught the bat, took a deep breath, and did the same.
...
...no voices?
A flash of light signaled the appearance of what was probably at fault. A massive orange Noise sigil was floating in the hall. It shook violently, as if about to explode, and was steadily drifting down the hallway Mike and Zachi had just come from. It hummed loudly with a very irritating high-pitched buzzing sound and radiated neon orange light all over.
"Oh my god! What is that!?" Mike yelled.
"Like I would know?!" Zachi yelled back.
"Do we run!?" Mike yelled again.
As if in reply, the sigil ripped open, dragging Zachi and Mike into the fight. The quarreling shoppers vanished and the lights returned to normal, but now standing before them was a gigantic red-and-black Noise monstrosity. It almost looked like a lion, but it had two goat heads to accompany the feline one, wreathed in a rippling grey mane of TV static. It stood nearly 8 feet tall at the shoulder, and was at least 12 feet long, not counting its tail, which by the way, ended in a serpent's head.
It was completely surrounded by Reapers. A swarm of Black Hoods flew or ran around it, spamming very flashy attacks that seemed completely ineffectual, while just barely dodging its swipes. A handful of Red Hoods mainly kept their distance, setting up those honeycomb invisible walls and bailing before the Noise tackled right through them.
"HOLY F-" Mike tried to yell, but the Noise's heads roared and the shockwave tossed Mike and Zachi a ways down the hall. They landed in a heap, ears ringing, but not hurt too badly. It was the exploding fireball the Noise spat to follow up that really did a number on them.
After the bang, Mike couldn't feel his body. His vision was swirling, but if he could see, he'd notice the two familiar faces rushing towards them. A bright pink light soon bathed both Mike and Zachi, and he started to feel sensation returning. His eyes focused, and saw a familiar pink streak of hair. Sparkles was standing over them with a ring glowing on her hand. Nearby, Jesus had moved three benches, two bookshelves, and a potted plant between the Noise and the Players as a sort of shield.
Mike tried to bolt up, but a sudden bout of wooziness brought him back down. Instead he rolled on the ground to see if Zachi was alright, only to see her looking back at him the same way,
"Slow down you two. We gotcha. Don't worry. Looks like you owe us twice." Sparkles said with a half-smile.
A) What the hell are you doing here?
B) What the hell is that thing?
C) ...Thanks?
D) Other
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Post by SwordMasterEX on Apr 3, 2015 2:10:32 GMT -6
D, "Do we have a plan to fight that thing?"
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Post by empireoffire on Apr 3, 2015 2:41:42 GMT -6
B.
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